Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to enter into contract with the Highland Youth Garden to support capacity building.
The Highland Youth Garden is a community garden spanning nearly half an acre in the Hilltop area - created in 2009 the garden is celebrating 10 years of exceptional educational gardening in the Hilltop community. The Highland Youth Garden offers monthly Harvest Gatherings giving community members, volunteers and sponsors an opportunity to harvest produce and celebrate with a meal - they also improve access to and education about healthy and local food.
The Highland Youth Garden also serves students from Highland Elementary and the Columbus Bi-Lingual Academy during the school year and during the summer provides food and opportunities for young people to participate in the Westgate Farmer’s Market.
Highland Youth Garden supports the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Action Plan by providing access to healthy, affordable food, creating and supporting jobs for Westside teens, and using less energy and reducing waste. In 2019, the garden was presented the inaugural Local Food Champion Award.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any disruption in service for at-risk residents.
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to enter into contract with Highland Youth Garden to support capacity building; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Highland Youth Garden is a community garden spanning nearly half an acre in the Hilltop area - created in 2009 the garden is celebrating 10 years of exceptional educational gardening in the Hilltop community; and
WHEREAS, The Highland Youth Garden offers monthly Harvest Gatherings giving community members, volunteers and sponsors an opportunity to harvest produce and celebrate with a meal - they also improve access to and education about healthy and local food; and
WHEREAS, The Highland Youth Garden’s positive, garden-based activities for children and youth enhance the Hilltop community through the growing of food and the education of its neighbors; and
WHEREAS, The Highland Youth Garden also serves students from Highland Elementary and the Columbus Bi-Lingual Academy during the school year and during the summer provides food and opportunities for young people to participate in the Westgate Farmer’s Market; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the Board of Health in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a grant agreement with Highland Youth Garden in order to avoid any disruption in service for at-risk residents; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized to enter into contract with the Highland Youth Garden to support capacity building.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $20,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $20,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the actions authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 329 that relate to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this legislation.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.